Suns-Clippers Game 1 Live Blog
Welcome to Inside The Suns' live coverage of Game 1 between the Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers. Here you'll find the latest news, analysis and more stemming from the game.
The Suns were unable to hold onto a late game comeback falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 111-108 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. The Suns looked slow at the start on the game on both sides of the ball. Going into the second quarter the Suns began to find a rhythm and brought the game within four going into the half. Their best basketball came in the third quarter when Phoenix led by as much as nine. The Suns benched finished with a total of eight points scored.
Fourth Quarter 115-110 LA (34-29 LA)
7.9 - Gordon makes both free throws to make it a five point game. Suns and Clippers exchange layups to finish the game, 115-110 LA.
10.1 - Westbrook blocks Booker before throwing the ball onto Booker, knocking the ball out of bounds. 111-108 LA
17.7 - The Suns were unable to find an open man and took their final timeout. The suspense only grows.
17.7 - Westbrook is fouled and scores two free throws to lead 111-108. The Suns will have a chance to stay alive and have one more timeout.
28.8 - Clippers take their final timeout still leading 109-108. Ayton keeps getting beaten by Westbrook on the rebound.
43.1: Westbrook has been very valuable to LA in every way but scoring tonight.
1:08 - Suns trail by one after a foul to Paul brings the Suns ever so closer. Clippers will have possession after the timeout. 109-108 LA
1:30 - back-to-back threes for the Clippers result in a 109-103 lead. Durant answers with a three 109-106
3:02 - The timeout was for not as the ball was thrown away. Suns take possession
3:07 - The Clippers took a full timeout after being silenced for a 1:40 seconds. They were only outscored 2-0 but had issues in transition and appeared to be slipping. The Suns still trail, 100-99 LA
4:23 - Devin Booker has been a defensive wizard tonight and after a steal has put the Suns within 1, 100-99 LA
4:47 - both teams with errors, Suns are the ones bitten by it, 100-96 LA
6:00 - It's been a back and forth affair with the Clippers having the extra point to take the lead. It has been high quality basketball on all fronts since the beginning of the second half. 97-96 LA
8:46 - Shamet is doing his thing, 90 All
9:33 - Landry Shamet got his revenge moment with the dunk to tie things up at 88
9:52 - After back and fourth Leonard has pulled the Clippers ahead by two, 88-86 LA
Third Quarter 81-81 All (27-22 PHX)
End of Quarter - The Suns came out playing hot and erased a double digit disadvantage. Phoenix without their starters so far tonight have looked like ghosts. Giving up 30 in the first quarter is haunting the Suns bad. 81-81 All.
1:06 - The Clippers are taking advantage of what has been a very underwhelming Suns bench so far. Booker is showing some flash defensively with a block, 79-77 PHX
2:58 - Durant is sub'd out for what seems to be the quarter, he did not attempt a shot but did have five assists in the quarter. Suns continue to lead 78-72
5:25 - A timeout is called by the Clippers after what has been an insane run by the Suns outscoring LA 20-9 in the second half. 74-68 PHX
6:26 - The Suns have their first lead of the game after a through the leg pass by Chris Paul, 70-68 PHX
6:46 - The game is tied after a Torrey Craig dunk, 68-68 All
7:12 - There is something really special about Booker and Durant playing together. A great pass by Durant to Booker brings Phoenix within 2 after trailing by as much as 16. 68-66 LA
9:00 - Ayton has had moments so far but is struggling to find control of the paint, 67-62 LA
9:32 - Leonard has looked like a beast so far but both teams are playing very even so far, 66-61 LA
Halftime
The Suns first quarter issues continued going into game one of the playoffs against the Clippers being outscored 30-18. Clipper's Kawhi Leonard and Eric Gordon made a splash scoring a combined 19 points. After being silenced in the first quarter Suns' Kevin Durant responded in the second quarter scoring 17 points.
Keep an eye on Clippers center Ivica Zubac who picked up a double-double in the first half and has been on Durant most of tonight.
2nd Quarter 59-54 LA (36-29 PHX)
The Suns rose to the pressure in the second quarter and outscored the Clippers 36-29. Defensively the Suns need to shut down what has been a very successful game in the paint for LA and find their shot at the three point line. 59-54 LA
1:24 - Ayton may have saved the Suns by being called for a foul that appeared to have been charged to Booker, Refs are alway right however and Booker still has only 2 fouls, 57-45 LA
2:05 - Booker has entered the chat, 55-43 LA
4:02 - Durant is called for his second foul of the game and a timeout is called. Booker and Josh Okogie with two fouls as well. The Suns have looked much better overall this quarter and lead in scoring 17-15. Still however they trail 45-35 LA
5:44 - shot clock expires against the Clippers, 42-29 LA
7:45 - Clippers take a timeout, Ayton made himself known to bring Phoenix within 13 points. Suns bench is yet to score a field goal.
9:44 - Durant was fouled and now has his first points of the night, 35-21 LA
10:15 - If you know anyone that complains about defense in the NBA have them tune into this game. Suns trail 33-18
1st Quarter 30-18 LA
End of First - The Suns looked like they have often in first quarters this season, slow. None of the starting five is shooting a hot hand either to help compensate for that issue. Kawhi Leonard and Eric Gordon finished the first quarter a combined 8-9 from the field. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are a combined 0-9 for any OKC fans checking in....
2:28 - Suns still find themselves in a hole trailing 22-17. Eric Gordon is digging for LA quite quickly scoring 12 points on 5-6 shooting. Durant is 0-4...
5:54 - The Suns trail 16-10 and should consider themselves lucky only shooting 36/25/50 compared to LA's 55/75/50
7:40 - Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton have each scored, 7-5 Suns
9:41 - Durant is called for his first foul trying to block Kawhi Leonard. Only one shot was made. It did bring the crowd back into what has been a very quite offensive game
10:14 - Clippers take a 2-0 lead after neither side can make anything happen
12:00 - Clippers won the tip-off
The game will begin on NBA TV for anyone that is confused.
PRE-GAME
The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers are already pretty familiar with each other thanks to their placement as Pacific Division foes, the last of the four meetings coming in the regular season finale before setting up for a first-round meeting in the postseason.
Now, at least four more games will be played between the two sides, though Phoenix's side will look much different than their last encounter a week ago.
The Suns will roll out a starting lineup that features Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Deandre Ayton - all of which sat out the final two games of the regular season. The Suns finished the season winning their final six games before resting their starters.
Phoenix is 8-0 with Durant in the lineup, and they certainly hope that improves against a Clippers team that is expected to be without the talents of Paul George through the first round of play. George injured his knee back in late March and has been exercising with the team but is reportedly not close to making a return.
Even in George's absence, the Clippers were able to win their last five-of-seven games to conclude the regular season and grab the No. 5 seed in the West.
Phoenix/LA split their season series 2-2.
Phoenix Suns Injury Report
Cameron Payne (Low Back Soreness) is Questionable
Los Angeles Clippers Injury Report
Paul George (Right Knee Sprain) is Out
TONIGHT’S REFEREES:
Marc Davis (#8)
Kevin Scott (#24)
Brian Forte (#45)
Alternate: Scott Twardoski (#52)
